France’s Total Rumoured in Talks with KRG

The Sunday Times, citing unidentified industry sources, reports that French oil and gas producer Total is close to securing exploration rights over several exploration blocks in Iraqi Kurdistan.

A deal could be announced within weeks, according to the newspaper.

Chevron and ConocoPhillips are also believed to be competing for rights in the semi-autonomous region, following the announcement last year that ExxonMobil had acquired six exploration blocks in defiance of central government in Baghdad.